TWO hundred and ninety cyclists including the chairman of Huddersfield Town Football Club, Dean Hoyle, began a 280-mile charity ride across Yorkshire this morning.

The four-day event is designed to raise thousands of pounds for Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) and Town's Academy.

Among those taking part in Pedal for Pounds 4 are key members of the club including commercial director Sean Jarvis and ambassador, Andy Booth.

The idea was born four years ago when Mr Hoyle cycled to Southend with 21 others. Since then it has grown and grown and the hope is that the £720,000 raised from previous such events will be taken beyond the £1m mark.

Mr Hoyle said: "This is my fourth such event and it is the first time I have sat on my saddle since I got off on the last bike ride from Yeovil."

Unlike Yeovil the weather this time was perfect with riders enjoying ideal cycling conditions - cool temperatures and bright sunshine.

Among those setting off from Huddersfield Town's Canalside base were a party of 19 first-timers including Georgina Wignall, 18, from Quarmby and team captain Juliette Dennett of Mirfield and her 22-year-old daughter Loren.

Related content

Also looking forward to the ride were Paul Gowland, the 48-year-old director of fundraising for YAA, John Sheard, one of the oldest participants at 69 who will celebrate his 70th birthday in the saddle tomorrow.

There was also a full-blown medical team, Team Five, featuring Dr Jez Pinnell, medical advisor to YAA and a consultant anesthetist at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, paramedics, John Baxter and Darrel Cullen and Paul Gowland.

There was a father and daughter partnership too - former town legend Mark Lillis, now the Academy manager and his daughter Georgina, a "nice" football agent!

Andrew Lister, chief pilot for YAA said he was also looking forward to the ride which will finish on Sunday before Town's crunch match with Barnsley.

Related content

Click here to see our special live updated story of day one of this year's Pedal for Pounds